Challenges in Developing Dhanbad Airport under Greenfield Airports Policy
The Government of India (GoI) has established the Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008, aimed at facilitating the development of new airports across the country. According to this policy, any airport developer, including state governments, wishing to construct an airport must first identify a suitable site, conduct a pre-feasibility study, and submit a proposal to the Central Government for ‘Site Clearance’ prior to receiving ‘In-Principle’ approval. The onus of implementing these projects—including land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R), and securing funding—rests with the airport developer or the respective state government. The completion timeline for such projects is contingent on various factors, including land acquisition challenges, mandatory clearances, and financial closure.
As it stands, no proposals seeking ‘Site Clearance’ have been submitted by either the State Government of Jharkhand or any airport developer for the establishment of a Greenfield Airport in Dhanbad. However, the existing Dhanbad airstrip, owned by the Jharkhand government, is listed among unserved airstrips under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik). In the latest round of bidding (UDAN 5.2) for small aircraft (less than 20-seaters), bids have been received to connect the Dhanbad airport.
Following this, the State Government of Jharkhand was requested to confirm the availability of land for both the development of the airport and the operation of small aircraft, with future expansion possibilities to category 3C. Unfortunately, the state government has yet to provide the necessary consent for the development of the Dhanbad airport, citing land constraints as a significant hurdle.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3218
(To be answered on the 7th August 2025)
DEVELOPMENT OF GREENFIELD AIRPORT IN DHANBAD
3218. SHRI DULU MAHATO
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-
(a) whether it is a fact that the Union Government had agreed to take action for a Greenfield airport in Dhanbad while acceding to the continuous requests by public representatives thereon and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the State Government of Jharkhand has submitted any progress report or update to the Union Government in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the said State Government has shared any concrete details to start the project in view of land availability and repeated advisories from the Union Government and if so, the details thereof;
(d) the reasons stated by the State Government for the non-commencement of flights despite the fact that air services were being operational between 1980–1987, subsequently terminal has been inaugurated in 2008 and proposals invited under the PPP model in 2011; and
(e) whether the Union Government has formulated any plan to ensure time- bound cooperation from the State Government of Jharkhand keeping in view the industrial and religious importance of the project and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
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